…For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

The Best Websites For Beginning Older Readers

I was able to make this new list sooner than I had thought I would. The sites listed in my previous list of The Best Websites To Help Beginning Readers have been enjoyed by both my students and their parents. However, most of them have had little or no formal schooling in the past.

I can see that older students and adults who have had some formal schooling in their native countries, but who have had no prior experience with the English language, might not feel engaged by a number (though not all, as I indicated in that post) of the sites in my previous list.

I found eight sites for beginning older readers that I felt were worthy enough to be listed on a “The Best…” list. These, as well as 8,000 other categorized links, can also be found on my website.

Sometime in the future I’ll make a similar list of sites for Intermediate and Advanced English Language Learners.

Here are what I believe to be the Best Websites For Beginning Older Readers:

Number eight are Sight Words at Quiz Tree. I’m not a big fan of sight word memorization out of context, but this is a decent way for students to be introduced to, and practice, some of the basic English sight words, also known as the Dolch Word List.

Number seven is another Sight Word list — Basic Sight Words List One from Adult and Family Education. The words are taught in context and have great follow-up activities. However, it’s only a small list of sight words.

Number six is also a series of Sight Word exercises from Reall Languages. I bring my same reservations to learning words out of context, but this site at least provides a variety of exercises and games that students can use.

I’m ranking Learning Line number five. It may be a little out of reach for very, very Beginning English Language Learners, but it has high-interest accessible content on employment, health, and basic communication issues.

Number four is a new series of authentic stories designed to teach phonics called Story By Story Phonics Lessons. It’s sponsored by the Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota.

The Embedded Learning Portal in the United Kingdom has one hundred exceptional step-by-step literacy (and math) lessons designed for adult learners. This site is number three on my list.

And, now, the number one ranked website for beginning older readers is….Reading Skills Stories from Marshall Adult Education in Minnesota. They have Reading Skills Stories 1 and Reading Skills Stories 2. There are many leveled, high-interest accessible stories with several follow-up activities for each one. They also have a great Student Lessons section, too.

How great to see links to your resources on CATEnet! I’m planning to include these sites (and your other wonderful web resources) in the “best resources” lists I’m preparing for teachers I coach in NYC public schools. Your resources will also be distributed and discussed in college courses for students I help prepare to become middle and high school teachers. Thanks, Larry, for sharing your generous “gifts”!
~ Ginnie

I work in a refugee school in Cairo and am constantly asked by expats wishing to help Egyptian friends learn English for good web sites for their students. To have had someone do the hackwork of searching for the best websites is such a blessing. Thank you.

My Second Book On Student Motivation!

My Second Book On Teaching ELLs

My book, "The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide: Ready-to-Use Strategies, Tools, and Activities for Teaching English Language Learners of All Levels," (co-authored by Katie Hull Sypnieski) was published in the Summer of 2012